After seeing a woman break 24 seconds and I think we can stop the discussion of "IF" the LZR suit is faster and start thinking "how much faster".
The previous line of suits (Fastskin and so on) were pretty similiar to a shaved swimmer. Sure - they do feel like they make you float, but overall the times seemed to move along "in line" with what I would expect to see in terms of improvements in the sport. If the previous suits would have been that much faster than shaving, you would have never seen people just using the legskins. By the way - for us Masters swimmers there was always the added benefit of keeping in all the "extra layers of skin".
So how much faster are the LZR suits ?
If I had to guess based on the results so far, I would say 0.25 to 0.30 per 50 and double that for the 100. I can see the Bernard going 48 low in the 100 and I can see Sullivan getting close or just breaking the 50 record. It makes sense that Libby Lenton would swim a 24.2 or so in the 50.
I think one of the top regular teams out there should do a test - you need a good amount of world class swimmers training together to be able to do a test. Here is the test I would propose:
8-10 swimmers
2 days of testing
4x50 on 10 minutes all out
Day 1 - swim 2 with a Fastskin2 followed by 2 with the LZR
Day 2 - swim 2 with the LZR followed by 2 with the Fastskin2
Get the averages of all 10 swimmers - maybe drop the high and low and there you go.
Why do the test ? I would HAVE to know. Swimming is a big part of your life and you just set a massive PR using this new technology - my very first question would be " How much was me and how much was the suit?"?
My recollection is that FINA does not consider the suit to be a device but rather a "costume". Tyr ran into trouble with their wrist band type thing because FINA considered it to be a device rather than a costume.
Sure, it's a costume...designed by NASA and tested in water flumes (or whatever)...
I thought about this objection, but the rule I mentioned is the only place in the entire book that mentions buoyancy, and I know that suits aren't supposed to be buoyant. So I think a reasonable interpretation would be that a suit constitutes a "device."
And what to make of the LZR's "support girdle" that is supposed to keep you in the correct body position (or some such). It isn't a means of propulsion but that seems to be a bit more than saying it is just a piece of cloth.
Any lawyers or officials want to comment? USMS Rule book is at
http://www.usms.org/rules/
Because USMS simply abides by FINA's rulings on suits?
We have our own rule book. When the rule is identical to FINA's (as I believe it is in this case), the wording is just reproduced in our rule book. Why have a rule book if we ignore it and look to FINA? We can't just ignore our own rules.
I've just heard a rumor that the LZRs won't be allowed at SC Nationals, by the way, because of the (lack of) availability issue.
Any lawyers or officials want to comment? USMS Rule book is at
http://www.usms.org/rules/
All swimmer lawyers who like bodysuits are working pro bono for Speedo.
My argument would be that these suit don't "help speed," instead they hinder your speed less than other suits.
Probably the wording should be that the suits must not aid in propulsion.
I read your argument to mean that all suits somehow hinder your speed and that the new LZR only hinders it less. Does this mean that our skin is faster than any suit? I just don't think you argument works, these suits to help you move through the water faster and help with recovery.
I'm starting to think that these suits are breaking the rules....
I read your argument to mean that all suits somehow hinder your speed and that the new LZR only hinders it less. Does this mean that our skin is faster than any suit? I just don't think you argument works, these suits to help you move through the water faster and help with recovery.
I'm starting to think that these suits are breaking the rules....
One of the articles in Lindsay's links seems to say as much:
"And that being the case, why would a federation wish to deny that its suit of choice is performance enhancing? Perhaps because the rules frown on such definitions. If so, what has to change, the suit (not going to happen) or the rules and processes of suit approval."
Which echoes what I said earlier.
I could only really skim through the articles (I really should be grading...but I am easily distracted from that odious chore) but what many of the athletes seemed to say was that the compression was the biggest factor about the suits. It is NOT about drag.
I also found Schubert's comment interesting: My advice to athletes is 'you have a black and white decision' - the money or the gold medal. And it's going to be a real test of character as to what choice they make.' I am not sure if he is saying it will show character to WEAR the suits (presumably showing your dedication to winning gold) or NOT to wear them.
(Now, honestly, back to grading)
It would appear that FINA has been down this road, and addressed the equipment/costume/"help speed" questions, already. This article dates from 2000:
findarticles.com/.../pg_1
Maybe I shouldn't have said "my argument." Probably "an argument" would be better.
I really think ideally the tech suits should be outlawed. Require men to wear briefs and women wear tank suits. What suit you wear shouldn't be a factor in your performance.
Maybe they should make it like in horse racing where all the horses carry the same weight. You can wear a Speedo LZR, but you also have to drag a parachute behind you if you do :)
I really think ideally the tech suits should be outlawed. Require men to wear briefs and women wear tank suits. What suit you wear shouldn't be a factor in your performance.
Advancing the sport at the speed of frozen molasses.
It's a dang swimsuit and we are adult swimmers, time to move on already!
